Marking implement and holder therefor



July 20, 1965 c. H. CHADBOURN MARKING IMPLEMENT AND HOLDER THEREFOR Filed NOV. 5, 1963 CHARLES H. CHADBOURN 4'? KMQ v g 4 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,195,169 MARKING LEMENT AND HOLDER THEREFGR Charles Henry iilhadbonrn, 1922 W. 49th St, Minneapolis Minn. Filed. Nov. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 321,996 1 Claim. ((Zl. -517) This invention relates to the identification of objects by the application of indicia thereon and to Writing and marking implements as well as cannisters for holding such implements for use with relatively heavy writing fluids, such fluids being obtainable in a variety of colors.

The invention relates particularly to relatively simple, practical, reasonably priced writing and marking equipment of novel construction and an advance over the art.

Various types of writing and marking implements have been employed with varying degrees of satisfaction, cannister type implements having been determined as particularly advantageous because of the reduction in time necessary to provide a new supply of writing fluid. Also, pens and holders have been so constructed that the pens became mesy, sometimes would get stuck in the holders, and otherwise were not as neat, clean, and satisfactory as desired.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the difficulties of the prior art and to provide a simple, practical writing and marking implement and receptable which serves as a holder for the writing implement when not in use and in which the holder is provided with a depending sleeve for the reception of the writing end of the implement, such writing implement including a tubular member having a reduced portion at one end with means for holding a felt nib and having a pair of spaced rings about such reduced portion which perform the dual function of assisting in the use of the marking or writing implement particularly with regard to the location of the fingers on the same and the rings serving as minimum bearing areas to prevent binding action between the Writing implement and the sleeve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marking pen with a nib and a cannister or holder therefor in which the cannister has a top with a depending sleeve for the reception of the marking pen when not in use and such cannister containing a supply of marking fluid and means for supporting the marking implement while transferring the fluid to the nib.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating one embodiment of the invention in assembled relation;

FIG. 2, an exploded perspective thereof;

FIG. 3, a vertical section of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, an enlarged perspective of the marking implement per se;

FIG. 5, a section taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4; and,

FIG. 6, an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 66 of FIG. 2.

Briefly stated the present invention is a combination marking implement and cannister or holder therefor in which the implement includes a tubular member having a reduced portion at one end with means within the bore of such reduced portion for engaging and adjustably holding a felt nib which extends substantially the full length of the tubular member and is extendable and retractable relative thereto. The cannister includes a container with a removable top and such top has a depending sleeve for holding the marking implement when not in use and such cannister contains a writing fluid of any de- 3,l95,lfi9 Patented July 20, 1965 sired color as well as one or more absorbent felt pads which are adapted to support the writing implement and to transfer the color to the nib of the implement.

With continued reference to the drawing a cannister ill is provided which may be constructed of transparent or opaque material having any desired shape, as for instance a cylindrical wall 11 having a bottom 12 and a top 13 with a relatively wide opening 14 therein and a recessed groove 15 adjacent to the opening. A lid or cover 16 is provided having a depending flange 17 adjacent to its periphery and adapted to cooperatively engage and be received Within the 'roove 15 in the top to form an air-tight joint or connection. The central portion of the lid 16 has an opening 13 and a sleeve 19 is connected to such lid in alignment with the opening 18 in any desired manner. The cannister is adapted to receive a writing fluid 29 of any desired color which preferably is of the fast-drying, smudge-proof type. One or more pads 21 of compressible absorbent material such as felt, sponge rubber or the like is received within the container for a purpose which will be described later.

A generally cylindrical marking implement 23 is provided and is adapted to be received and maintained within the sleeve U of the cannister lid when not in use. The marking implement 23 includes an elongated tubular member 24 having a pair of spaced reduced portions 25 at its lower end, noting FIGS. 1 and 3, with a pair of annular ridges, rings or enlargements 26 formed integrally therebetween or formed as separate pieces and attached thereto in any desired manner. The rings perform the dual function of assisting in the use of the making implement by providing finger engageable members to improve the ability of the user to grasp the implement and to prevent slipping thereof through the fingers.

Also the external diameter of the rings 26 is substantially equal to the internal diameter of the sleeve 19 to provide minimum bearing areas between the rings and the sleeve to prevent any binding action or the upward staining of ink on the member and simultaneously forming substantially an airtight seal to prevent evaporation of the writing fluid within the cannister. The tubular member 24 is hollow for its entire length and is provided with a reduced threaded bore 2'7 at the end having the reduced portion 25.

A nib or marking member 28 is provided and such nib is of a length to extend substantially the full length of the tubular member prior to the use of the device. The nib is generally cylindrical and of a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the major portion of the tubular member 24 but slightly larger than the reduced bore 2? so that the threads will adjustably engage and hold the nib against axial movement. Preferably the nib is constructed of a resilient absorbent material such as felt or the like which will absorb and retain writing fluid when dipped into the cannister. The writing end of the nib may be formed in any desired shape, such as a wide point as illustrated, or such tip may be shaped in any other configuration desired.

A cap or plug 29 having a reduced portion 3h providing a shoulder 31 is adapted to be applied to the end of relatively rigid tubular member 24. The reduced portion 363 preferably is of a diameter to frictionally fit 23 normally will be received within the sleeve 19 of the cannister when not in use and the rings 2d will form substantially an air-tight seal to prevent the evaporation of the writing fluid. When the pen is received within the sleeve the point of the nib will engage the pads 21 to maintain the pen in predetermined position; In order to apply fluid to the nib regardless of the level of the fluid within the cannister the pen may be forced downwardly into the cannister, which action will compress the pads 21 so that when the implement is released, the pads will expand to their initial position and will create a suction which will draw fluid up through the pads where it can be absorbed by the nib whereupon the marking implement can be removed from the sleeve and used to transfer the fluid to any surface. By longitudinal adjustment of the nib 28 in the threaded section 27 of the marker tubular member 24 the annular bearing rings 26 on the latter may be maintained enclosed within sleeve 19 of the cannister cover, when the marker is not being used, to compensate for shortening of the lower end of the nib due to wear or other causes.

It will be apparent that a relatively simple, practical marking implement and cannister have been provided with such cannister having a depending sleeve for the reception of the marking implement when not in use and means within the cannister for supporting a marking implement while transferring fluid to the nib.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claim.

What is claimed is:

The combination of a marker and a holder therefor, said holder comprising a cannister having a vertical axis and adapted to contain a marking fluid therein,

a cover removably mounted on the top of said cannister, a said removable cover having an opening therein, a cylindrical bearing sleeve rigidly secured substantial- ;ly vertically in said cover opening and extending downwardly a substantial distance into said cannister,

absorbent pad means within said cannister supported thereby and adapted to extend a distance upwardly therein to a point proximate the lower end of said cylindrical bearing sleeve,

said marker comprising a rigid and non-deformable elongated tubular member open at least at the lower end thereof, the major upper end portion being of uniform diameter and slightly smaller in crosssection than said cylindrical bearing sleeve,

the minor lower length portion of said tubular member including longitudinally spaced portions of reduced diameter providing spaced annular ridges therebetween to facilitate free sliding bearing contact of said tubular member within the cylindrical bearing sleeve of said cover and preventing contact of the remaining portions of said tubular member with the interior of the bearing sleeve of said cover,

said spaced annular ridges providing non-binding contact bearing areas for lateral support of said tubular member within the interior of said bearing sleeve and constituting sealing means substantially preventing evaporation of marking ink fluid within the cannister,

said tubular member having an internally threaded portion adjacent said open lower end thereof,

an elongated marking ink absorbent and porous nib member within said tubular member and having a marking lower end,

said nib member firmly engaging and being held within' said tubular member by engagement with said internally threaded portion so as to extend downwardly therefrom a selectively predetermined distance,

said threaded portion providing for longitudinal adjustment of said nib member within said tubular member whereby said lower marking end of said nib member may be supported on said absorbent pad means and said spaced ridges on said tubular member maintained disposed within said cylindrical hearing sleeve of said cover.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,620,499 12/52 Dressel 15-518 3,020,578

FOREIGN PATENTS 200,329 11/55 Australia.

2/62 Rosenthal 15-538 XR 

